Maryland vs. Mason

Deciding between University of Maryland College Park and George Mason University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Maryland College Park
George Mason University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • Setting
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Maryland 41,725
  • Mason 39,766
  • Type
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Maryland #85
  • Mason #243
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Maryland -
  • Mason -
  • Status
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • Mason Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Maryland
  • Mason

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Maryland $11,809
  • Mason $14,220
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Maryland $41,186
  • Mason $38,688
  • Room & Board
  • Maryland $15,958
  • Mason $15,725
  • Average Net Price
  • Maryland $16,581
  • Mason $18,823
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Maryland $12,867
  • Mason $12,852
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Maryland 55%
  • Mason 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Maryland 60,056
  • Mason 25,234
  • Admitted
  • Maryland 26,902
  • Mason 22,074
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • Mason 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • Mason 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Maryland 1470
  • Mason 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Maryland 33
  • Mason 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Maryland 3.84
  • Mason 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Maryland A-
  • Mason A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Maryland Elite
  • Mason Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Maryland Low
  • Mason
  • ACT Range
  • Maryland 32/35
  • Mason 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Maryland Test optional
  • Mason Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Maryland
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Maryland 17:1
  • Mason 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Maryland 82%
  • Mason 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Maryland $68,300
  • Mason $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Maryland 80%
  • Mason 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Maryland $19,500
  • Mason $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Maryland $201
  • Mason $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Maryland 51%
  • Mason 49%
  • % Women
  • Maryland 49%
  • Mason 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Maryland High
  • Mason Very High
  • HBCU
  • Maryland No
  • Mason No
  • % White
  • Maryland 52%
  • Mason 43%
  • % Asian
  • Maryland 16%
  • Mason 19%
  • % Black
  • Maryland 13%
  • Mason 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Maryland 9%
  • Mason 13%
  • % Native American
  • Maryland 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Maryland 0%
  • Mason 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Maryland 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % International
  • Maryland 4%
  • Mason 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Maryland 1%
  • Mason 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Maryland 70%
  • Mason 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Maryland 28%
  • Mason 14%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Maryland Yes
  • Mason Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Maryland No
  • Mason No
  • Meal Plan
  • Maryland Yes
  • Mason Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Maryland No
  • Mason No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Maryland Yes
  • Mason Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland College Park in College Park, MD with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland College Park is larger than Mason based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 39,766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland College Park is located in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting); George Mason University is in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Maryland College Park is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland College Park 17:1; George Mason University 16:1.

Maryland vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland or Mason? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland College Park than Mason ($16,581 vs. $18,823).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 1.5% lower than at University of Maryland College Park ($15,725 vs. $15,958).
  • George Mason University is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $2,411 more per year; $14,220.00 vs. $11,809.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at Maryland than at George Mason University (about $2,498 more per year; $41,186.00 vs. $38,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at University of Maryland College Park (71% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland College Park students is 0.1% larger than aid received by George Mason University students ($12,867 vs. $12,852).

Maryland vs. Mason Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland or Mason? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mason and Maryland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 210 points higher than at Mason (1260).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at Mason).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530; George Mason University 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 32/35; George Mason University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maryland - Test optional; Mason - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Mason (3.68).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Maryland (44.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Maryland vs. 20.2% at Mason.

Maryland vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maryland and Mason? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Maryland College Park's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Mason graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,300 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland College Park graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Mason graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, Maryland graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mason graduates ($201 vs. $204).
  • More Maryland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.